Can body and cover feeding mechanism



Oct. 27, 1936. c. E. MALLORY CAN BODY AND COVER FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1934 U/zarles for] ,Ml!

-INVENTOR Wit-12 s:

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ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1936. g, MALLQRY 2,058,704

CAN BODY AND COVER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ckarles 5611211412207 INVENTOR vlz'ine s; y v

ATTORNEY Oct. 27,, 1936. Q MALLQRY 2,058,704

CAN BODY AND COVER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,4/9 lfl l ll fl l wmm am. my llll ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 19 36. c, MALLQRY 2,058,704

CAN BODY AND COVER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 12, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I72 b I 01; i0 80 10 w I 106 110 V if Q q 3' 1 l CkarZea 21"! 1 15212013 Wit :2 e .r 3 I INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented a. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN BODY AND COVER. FEEDING MECHANISM Application September 12, 1934, Serial No. 743,747

r In Argentina April 14, 1932 13 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of an application, Serial No. 696,902, filed by me on November 6, 1933, as a continuation in part of and to take the place of application, Serial No.

621,907, filed by me July 11, 1932-.

The invention relates to means for controlling the feeding of can bodies and can covers to a can heading mechanism.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for preventing the lid feeding mechanism from operating to feed a lid to the revolving turret should the lid receiving portion of the pocket be occupied by a previously fed .lid or a can having a lid thereon and not discharged by the means for removing the sealed cans from the turret.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple, practical and efiicient means of strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction for interrupting the feeding of the lids 'of the cans and for preventing the feeding of a lid to the pockets of the turret in the event of a pocket passing the can discharging means and containing a lid or a can when it arrives at the lid feeding mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing a can from being fed by the can feeding mechanism to a pocket of the revolvable turret which does not contain a lid previously located therein by the lid feeding mechanism. lid feeding mechanism becomes jammed due to imperfect lids in the magazine and one or more pockets may arrive at the can receiving station without a lid properly located therein. When such a condition happens and a can is allowed to be inserted, into that pocket, considerable trouble follows under the double seaming rolls necessitating a complete stop of the machine to remove the damaged can.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of this character adapted to be effected or placed in operation by a can and lid or a can lid and adapted after interrupting the feeding of the lids to be automatically restored to its normal condition after the rotary movement of the turret has carried the filled pocket beyond the lid feed interrupting mechanism and to a point where the said mechanism may be restored to normal condition without feeding a can lid to the filled pocket.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accom- It occasionally happens that the panying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:-

Fi'gure 1 is a plan-view of the can heading mechanism, partly in section, to illustrate more clearly the revolving turret and the associated guard for interrupting the lid feeding mechanism and-for preventing a lid from being fed to a turret pocket containing a lid.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the revolving turret and the lid feeding mechanism and illustrating the arrangement of the guard with relation to the.turret, parts being removed.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the mechanism for automatically controlling or interrupting the feeding of the lids.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating the manner of mounting the guard carrying member and the detent tripping arm.

Figure 7 is a detail view of the lid feeding bar.

Figure 7a is an end view of the lid feeding bar.

Figure 8 is a detail view illustrating the construction and arrangement of the pivoted detent for detachably connecting the lid feeding bar with the actuating mechanism.

Figure 9 is a detail plan view of the detent tripping arm.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the lid feeding bar.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism for actuating the lid feeding bar.

Figure 12 is a side elevation illustrating the construction of the casting for supporting the lid feeding mechanism and the means for automatically controlling or interrupting the same.

Figure 13 is a detail view illustrating the construction of the guard controlled pivoted bar for preventing the operation of the can feeding mechanism.

Filled cans enter the machine on a conveyor chain I from which they are readily pushed one at a time by a pushing bar 2 in a position to be fed into can receiving pockets 3 of a revolving turret 4 through the medium of a pushing arm 5.

The pushing bar 2 and the pushing arm 5 are operated in timed relationship with the step by step positioning of the turret 4. The tops or lids for the cans are also fed in proper timedrelationship from the magazine 5 into the U-irons 'I of the pockets of the turret. As illustrated in Figure 1 two step by step movements of the turret in the direction of the arrow A carry the can top to the position at which the can with which it is to be used is introduced into the turret through the medium of the pushing arm 5.

The turret 4 turns in a step by step movement about a vertical axis whereby the can tops are successively brought over the place where a can is caused to enter the pocket 3. The step by step movement of the turret ultimately brings each can and its associated cap directly under the seaming mechanism and after the can is capped and sealed it is later pushed out of the machine by an ejecting arm I9.

The point at which the capped and sealed can leaves the turret is 180 degrees from the poin at which the can enters the turret.

As the turret 4 passes in the direction indicated by the arrow A lids are fed into the pockets 3 from the magazine 5. Occasionally, due to various causes, cans and lids become jammed and one or the other is missing from its proper place for sealing. Guards 55 and 53 are placed relative to the lid feeder and can feeder entrances respectively.

First the lids are fed into the U-iron I in the pocket 3 directly in front of the lid feeding mechanism. The pocket 3 with the lid passes around to the location directly in front of the can feeder 5. The can feeder pushes a filled can into the pocket 3 under the said lid.

If, due to some imperfection or if themagazine 5 is empty of lids, a pocket passes the lid feeding entrance without receiving a lid, the pusher 5 is prevented from feeding a can into this empty pocket by the action of the guard 53. The guard 53 is pivoted to bracket 59 at 55. Link 5| is rigidly fixed to guard arm 53 at the point of pivot and pivots therewith. Link 55 is pivoted to link 5| at 52 and is provided at the nonpivoted end with a goose neck rod 53 pivotally connected to a bar 54 at 15, as clearly illustrated in Figure 13 of the drawings.

The bar 54 is pivoted on bracket 55 at H. A coiled spring 55 is attached to a bracket arm 51 at 58 and to a rod 12 at 13. The extent of movement of the bar 54 is limited by a slot 58.

Figure 13 discloses in solid line the position of bar 54 guarding the end of opening 15, which is the position of bar 54 when lip 54 has entered pocket 3 by reason of the absence of a lid. If a lid is present in pocket 3, as will be more clearly understood from the description which follows, bar 54 assumes the dotted line position of Figure 13, that is, out of registry with opening 15, thus permitting the end of rod 58 to pass through opening 15, as will be more particularly described hereinafter. 'It will be readily understood that the linkage mechanism may be arranged with opening I5 either above or below the pivot II by simple, well understood mechanical expedients.

It will be seen, therefore, that when the lip 54 is riding on the outerperiphery of the turret 4 between the pockets 3 and when .a lid is in a pocket passing the lip 54, the lip 54 and the arm 53 are maintained in the same position, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. In the event there is no lid in the pocket 3, when the pocket 3 passes the lip 54, the lip 54 will be permitted to enter the pocket 3 due to the action of the coiled spring 55 translated through the linkage mechanism comprising the bar 54 pivoted at H, the goose neck rod 53, link 55 and the link 5|. In the normal operation of the machine this movement of the linkage just described occurs each time a pocket passes the'lip 54, without a lid properly located therein. It will be seen that this movement of the linkage mechanism causes the bar 54 to cover the end of the opening 15 through which a rod 58 passes. A spring 51 attached to the frame of the machine at 15 and to a rod 11- at 15 tends always to urge the rod 58 and can feeding control assembly I8 forwardly. In the event that there is no lid in the pocket 3 when the pocket 3 passes the lip 54, the bar 54 moves over the end of the opening 15 and thus prevents the rod 58 from being pulled forwardly by the spring 51.

The can feeding assembly 15 is urged forward by coil spring 51 as has already been described unless restrained by bar 54. The rearward movement of the can feeding assembly is obtained by means of an eccentric cam not shown, which moves in timed relation to the pockets 3. It will be seen, therefore, that the pushing bar 2 of the can feeding assembly I9 is forced rearwardly at each intermittent movement of pocket 3 and in timed relation therewith, but is free to move forwardly during a short interval of time to deliver a can from the conveyor l to the feeding platform if not prevented from so doing as hereinbefore described.

Since the can feeding assembly 18 is thus controlled by the motion of the rod 58, if there is no lid in the pocket 3 when it passes the lip 54, the can feeding assembly does not pass a can from the conveyor I to the feeding platform 35.

The guard 55 is provided to control the feeding of the lids'into the turret. If a lid returns unused in a pocket or a can for some reason fails to discharge onto the platform l8, the lid feeding mechanism will fail to feed a lid into the occupied pocket. The guard 55 rides on the outer periphery of the turret near the top at a point adjacent the lid position so that if a lid occupies the pocket the guard does not move or move to the extent it would move were the pocket unoccupied and the failure of the guard 55 to make its normal movement causes the failure of the lid feeding mechanism to feed a lid from the magazine 5 into the occupied pocket when the latter assumes a position opposite the lid feeding mechanism.

The magazine 5 which contains the lids is supported by a suitable casting 55 having a suitable horizontal longitudinally disposed guideway 5i for a slidable lid feeding bar 82 which carries the lids one at a time from the magazine 5 to the pockets 3 of the revolving turret 4.

The casting is provided at the bottom of the guideway 8i with a longitudinal slot 83 through which depends an arm 84 of the lid feeding bar 82. The arm 54 consists of a short rod rigidly connected with the lid feeding bar 82 and extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to be engaged by mechanism for reciprocating the lid feeding bar. A pivoted detent 85 is provided for detachably engaging the arm of the lid feeding bar for connecting the same with the actuating mechanism and the said detent is controlled by tending upwardly from shafts 88 and 80 suitably 75 mounted on the casting or support 88 The connecting bar or member 86 is fitted flat against the rocker arms 81 and 88 and has its side faces are at the limit of their backward movement.

When the detent tripping arm 84 is arranged in a horizontal position it is located in the path of the horizontally movable pivotally mounted detent 85 and is adapted to be engaged by the same when the latter is moved rearwardly and approaches the limit of its rearward movement. The detent arm 85 preferably consists of an oblong piece of metal pivoted at one end at 95 and extending rearwardly therefrom or in a direction awayfrom the turret 4 and provided at its free end with an approximately triangular lug 86 presenting a straight transverse face to the'depending arm 84 of the lid'feeding bar 82 when'in engagement with the said bar and also presenting a beveled face located at'the free end of the detent 85 and adapted to contact with the tripping arm 84 whereby the detent 85 as it approaches the limit of its backward movement is swung laterally on its pivot 85 and thereby disengaged from the'said depending arm .84.

The outer end'of the tripping arm' 84 is provided with a beveled face 81 to engage the beveled face 88 of the lug 86 and facilitate the lateral movement of the detent 85 in disengaging the arm 84 which moves rearwardly beyond the beveled edge 81 of the arm 84 and into a recess 98 of the said arm, the rearward movement of the arm 84 being limited by an adjustable stop I88 preferably consisting of a screw, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

When the guard 55 and the guard supporting members are moved forwardly by the means hereinafter described to the limit of their forward movement and the guard enters an unoccupied pocket 3 of the turret 4 the rocker arms 81 and 88 are swung forwardly and the tripping arm 84 is swung downwardly out of the path of the detent 85 and the detent moves backwardly to the limit of its rearward movement without becoming disengaged from the depending arm 84 of the lid feeding bar 82 and is in position to slide the. lid feeding bar forwardly at the next lid feeding movement for feeding a lid from the magazine 6 to the pocket 3 of the turret opposite the lid feeding mechanism. I

If the guard 55 is prevented from entering a pocket of the turret 4 by reason of the pocket being occupied by a lid or can the guard will automatically interrupt the feeding of a lid to that pocket by throwing the tripping arm 84 in the plane of the detent 85 as the carrying member 86 makes its return, thus disengaging the detent automatically from the arm 84. The detent 85 is auto-. matically urged inwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings by a coiled spring I8I connected with a detent and a relatively fixed portion I82 preferably in the form of a slide having a bearing for a pivot I83 which connects a link I84 with the detent 85. The slide I82 operates in a suitable guide I85 which causes the pivot of the detent to reciprocate in a straight line in moving toward and from the turret 4 during the operation of the mechanism for feeding lids from the magazine 6 to the turret.

The link I84 connects the detent and the slide I82 with a main actuating arm I86 of the vertical shaft I81 journaled in a suitable bearing I88 and provided at itsupper end with a short arm I88 which is yieldably connected with the guard carrying member 86. The bearing I88 is suitably mounted on the casting or support 88 at one side thereof and the casting or support is provided at such side with an opening II8 through which the main actuating arm I85 extends.

The shaft I81 functions in timed relation with the turret and as any suitable means may be \employed for this purpose detailed description and illustration thereof are deemed unnecessary. The vertical shaft I8'I has a limited oscillatory movement for oscillating the main horizontal actuating arm I86 which is limited in its oscillation by adjustable stops III preferably consisting of adjusting screws carried by the bearing I88 at spaced points. The screws are located at opposite sides of a member I I2 adjustably mounted on the shaft I81 and yieldably connected with the main actuating arm I86 for cushioning the mechanism at the end of the oscillation. Any other suitable means may be employed for limiting the movement of the main actuating arm which is oscillated by the partial rotary movement of the vertical shaft in one direction and the reverse partial rotary movement of the shaft I81 in the opposite direction. The shaft I81 makes one complete cycle of movement in time to feed a lid into each pocket 3 of the turret 4 as it comes to a stop in front of the lid feeding mechanism.

The short arm I88 is rigidly and detachably secured to a reduced upper end II3 of the shaft I81 by a nut H4 or other suitable means and it makes a complete oscillation coextensive with the actuating arm I86.

In order to enable a variable movement to be imparted to the guard 55 and the guard carrying member 88 and the tripping arm 84, a yieldable connection is employed for communicating motion to the said guard carrying member 86 comprising a vertical rod. II5 extending upwardly from the arm I88 but not fixed thereto and carrying friction members H6 and Ill of fibre or other suitable material which embrace a portion of an approximately U-shaped plate '8 adjustably secured to angle pieces or brackets II8 which are mounted on the carrying member 88 at the outer side thereof. The U-shaped connecting plate which extends laterally from the guard carrying member 86 is composed of spaced transverse portions and a connecting longitudinal portion. The spaced transverse portions are provided with slots I28 for the reception of screws I2I or other suitable fastening means for adjustably securing the plate M8 to the brackets H9. The longitudinal portion of the plate H8 is also provided .with a longitudinal slot I22 through which the rod or pin II5 passes. The friction elements H6 and Ill partially embrace a portion of the longitudinal part of the plate H8 and are yieldably maintained in engagement with the same by a coiled spring I23 interposed between the upper friction element H6 and the adjusting nut I24 which varies the tensioning of the spring and the frictional engagement of the elements H6 and III.

The vertical rod ".5 is provided with a suitable seat I25 preferably formed by a collar and receiving the lower friction element H1. The yleldable frictional engagement of the plate H8 permits the short arm I09 of the vertical shaft I01 to complete its forward movement without actuating the guard carrying member 88 and the guard 55 when the guard I55 encounters a lid or can in an occupied pocket of the turret 4.

The short arm I09 is provided with 'a longitudinal slot I26 and the lower end of the vertical rod II! is slidably mounted in the slot I26 and it also operates in the slot I22 of the plate 8 so that in the oscillation of the short arm the vertical rod H is forced to move backwardly and forwardly in a straight line by means of the oscillatory movement of the short arm I09 of the shaft Hi1. The guard supporting member 86 is limited in its backward movement so that the friction elements which yieldably connect the arm I09 with the plate H8 of the said member 86 will slide rearwardly or in a direction away from the turret and thus be returned again to their former position ready to carry the guard 55 into a pocket 3 of the turret 4 if said pocket be empty. If occupied, the guard 55 cannot enter and the frictional elements H6 and II! are forced to slide forward on the plate H8. Therefore, when the short arm I09 starts its return movement, the frictional elements H6 and H1 cause the carrying member 86 to move its full distance rearwardly before slipping takes place, thus the detent 94 reaches a horizontal position to disengage the detent 85. With the present invention it is impossible to feed a second lid into a pocket 3 when the same already contains a lid.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets normally supplied with can lids, of can feeding mechanism having a slidable controlling member, a latch operable to hold the controlling member against movement, and a guard movable into an empty pocket of the turret and operably connected with the latch to arrest said controlling member to prevent a can being fed to a pocket which is void of a properly located can lid, said guard and latch being adapted to release the controlling member when the guard is prevented from moving into a pocket.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets normally supplied with can lids, of can feeding means provided with a slidable controlling rod, a latch operable to hold the con trolling rod against movement, a pivoted guard movable into and out of an empty pocket of the turret and operably connected with the latch for stopping the slidable controlling rod of the feeding means when the guard moves into an empty pocket to prevent a can being fed to a pocket void of a properly located can lid, said guard being adapted to prevent movement of the latch when the guard is prevented from moving into a lid carrying pocket of the turret, and yieldable means for actuating the guard to move into an empty pocket of the turret.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets normally supplied with can lids, of can feeding means having a movable controlling member, a latch operable to hold the controlling member against movement, a pivoted guard movable into and out of an empty pocket of the turret, and linkage connecting the guard with the latch for stopping the controlling member when the guard moves into an empty pocket to prevent a can being fed thereto.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets normally supplied with can lids, of can feeding means provided with a movable controlling member, a pivotally mounted latch bar operable to hold the controlling member against movement, a. spring connected with the latch bar for. urging the same in one direction, a pivoted guard movable into and out of an empty pocket of the turret, an arm connected with the guard and movable therewith, and a link connecting the arm with the latch bar, the latter being actuated by the spring to stop the controlling member when the guard moves into an empty pocket and the latch operating to release the controlling member when the guard is prevented from moving into a pocket.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets normally supplied with can lids, of can feeding means comprising a slidable controllable rod and means to prevent feeding of cans to pockets void of lids comprising a guard member normally urged within said pockets, a latch operably connected with said guard member and movable within the path of said controlling rod, said guard member when moved within an empty pocket of said turret serving to actuate said latch to arrest movement of said slidable rod.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets, of can feeding means provided with a reciprocating rod and means to prevent cans being fed into pockets of said turret void of lids comprising a plate having an opening therein, a bar operable with said reciprocating rod and slidable through said opening, a guard member normally urged to enter pockets of said turret void of lids, a latch pivotally mounted on said plate relative to said opening and operably connected with said guard member, said guard member when moved within a lid void pocket of said turret serving to actuate said latch whereby movement of said reciprocating rod is arrested, and feeding of a can thereinis prevented.

7. In a machine of the class described including a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets, means for feeding lids to the pockets including a reciprocating lid feeding means and means for actuating the lid feeding means, means for controlling the feeding of lids to the pockets comprising a pivoted detent connecting the actuating means with the lid feeding means, a pivoted tripping arm movable into and out of the path of the detent, and a guard member movable into and out of the empty pockets of the turret and operatively connected with the tripping arm for imparting pivotal movement thereto, the guard member when prevented from moving into an occupied pocket of the turret being adapted to hold the tripping arm within the path of the detent whereby the detent will disengage the actuating means from the lid feeding means to prevent the feeding of a lid into the occupied pocket of the turret.

8. In a machine of the class described including a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets, means for feeding lids to the pockets including a reciprocating lid feeding means and means for actuating the lid feeding means, means for controlling the feeding of lidsto the pockets.

comprising a pivoted detent connecting the actuating means with the lid feeding means, a pivoted tripping arm movable into and out of the path of the detent, and a guard member movable into and out of the empty pockets of the turret and operatively connected with the tripping arm for imparting pivotal movement thereto, the guard member when prevented from moving into an occupied pocket of the turret being adapted to hold the tripping arm within the path of the detent whereby the detent will disengage the actuating means from the lid feeding means to prevent the feeding of a lid into the occupied pocket of the turret, said pivoted detent being adapted to re-engage the actuating means with the lid feeding means after the feeding of the lid into the occupied pocket has been prevented.

9. In a machine of the class described including a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets, means for feeding lids to the pockets including a reciprocating lid feeding means and means for actuating the lid feeding means, means for controlling the feeding of lids to the pockets comprising a spring-tensioned pivoted detent connecting the actuating means with the lid feeding means, a pivoted tripping arm movable into and out of the path of the detent, and a reciprocating guard member yieidably connected with the lid feeding actuating means, the guard member being movable into and out of the empty pockets of the turret and operatively connected with the tripping arm for imparting pivotal movement thereto, the guard member when prevented from moving into an occupied pocket of the turret being adapted to hold the tripping arm within the path of the detent whereby the detent will disengage the actuating means from the lid feeding means to prevent the feeding of a lid into the occupied pocket of the turret.

10. In a machine of the class described including a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets, means for feeding lids to the pockets including a reciprocating lid feeding means and means for actuating the lid feeding means, means for controlling the feeding of lids to the pockets comprising a spring-tensioned pivoted detent connecting the actuating means with the lid feeding means, a pivoted tripping arm movable into and out of the path of the detent, a rocker arm operatively connected with the detent, and a slidable guard member movable into and out of the empty pockets of the turret and pivotally connected with the rocker arm for imparting pivotal movement to the tripping arm. the guard member when prevented from moving into an occupied pocket of the turret being adapted to hold the tripping arm within the path of the detent whereby the detent will disengage the actuating means from the lid feeding means to prevent the feeding of a lid into the occupied pocket of the turret.

11. In a machine of the class described including a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets, means for feeding lids to the pockets including a reciprocating lid feeding means and means for actuating the lid feeding means, means for controlling the feeding of lids to the pockets comprising a spring-tensioned pivoted detent connecting the actuating means with the lid feeding means, spaced rocker arms, a tripping arm operatively connected with one of the rocker arms for pivotal movement into and out of the path of the detent, a slidable guard member for movement into and out of the empty pockets of the turret, the guard member being mounted between the rocker arms and yieidably connected with the actuating means, the guard member when prevented from moving into an occupied pocket of the turret being adapted to hold the tripping arm within the path of the detent whereby the detent will disengage the actuating means from the lid feeding means to prevent the feeding of a lid into the occupied pocket of the turret.

12. In a machine of the class described including a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets, means for feeding lids to the pockets including a reciprocating lid feeding means and means for actuating the lid feeding means, means for controlling the feeding of lids to the pockets comprising a spring-tensioned pivoted detent connecting the actuating means with the lid feeding means, a. slidable guard member movable into and out of the empty pockets of the turret, means including a pivoted tripping arm operatively connected with the guard member for disengaging the pivoted detent from the lid feeding means when movement of the guard member is prevented into an occupied pocket of the turret, and means for yieidably connecting the guard member with the actuating means comprising an oscillating arm carried by the actuating means and provided with spring-controlled friction elements, and an element connected with the guard member and engaged by the friction elements, the friction elements being adapted for imparting slidable movement to the guard member into and out of the empty pockets of the turret and adapted for permitting independent movement of the actuating means when the guard member is prevented from moving into a pocket.

13. In a machine of the class described including a revolvable turret having can receiving pockets, means for feeding lids to the pockets including a reciprocating lid feeding means and means for actuating the lid feeding means, means for controlling the feeding of lids to the pockets comprising a spring-tensioned pivoted detent connecting the actuating means with the lid feeding means, a slidable guard member movable into and out of the empty pockets of the turret, means including a pivoted tripping arm operatively connected with the guard member for disengaging the pivoted detent from the lid feeding means when movement of the guard member is prevented into an occupied pocket of the turret, and means for yieidably connecting the guard member with the actuating means comprising an oscillatory arm carried by the actuating means and provided with a longitudinal slot, a plate carried by the guard member and provided with a slot extending across the longitudinal slot of the oscillatory arm, a rod extending through each of the slots and forming a connection between the slottedarm and the slotted plate, friction elements mounted on the rod and engaging the plate at opposite faces thereof, and means for yieidably maintaining the friction elements in engagement with the plate.

CHARLES EARL MALLORY. 

